FC Manitoba
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname = FC Manitoba
| image = FC_Manitoba_logo.png
| upright = 0.9
| fullname = Football Club Manitoba
| founded = 2010 (as WSA Winnipeg)
2020 (as FC Manitoba)
| nickname =
| stadium = Ralph Cantafio Soccer Complex
Winnipeg, Manitoba
| capacity = 2,000
| chrtitle = Owners
| chairman = FC Manitoba Inc. (Garcea Group of Companies)
| mgrtitle = Head coach
| manager = Walter Obregón
| website = {{url|https://www.footballclubmanitoba.ca/|footballclubmanitoba.ca}}
| current =
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| pattern_sh1 = 0000FF
| pattern_sh2 = FFFFFF
| pattern_so1 = 000000
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| leftarm1 = 0000FF
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}}
FC Manitoba is a Canadian soccer team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The club was founded in 2010 as WSA Winnipeg. In 2020, the club was acquired by a new ownership group and re-organized and branded as FC Manitoba. The team played in USL League Two, part of the United States soccer league system, from 2011 until 2023.
The team played its home games at the Ralph Cantafio Soccer Complex on the FIFA-approved synthetic grass of the complex's John Scouras Field. The team's colours are navy, gold, and white.
History
=WSA Winnipeg=
The World Soccer Academy was founded in 2001 in Winnipeg as a youth soccer academy by Eduardo Badescu.{{cite web|url=https://wsawinnipegpdl.com/about-us/about-wsa-winnipeg/|title=About WSA Winnipeg|work=WSA Winnipeg}}{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110205102405/http://www.rednationonline.ca:80/WSA_Winnipeg_looks_to_build_on_growth_and_development_in_Canada_december_13_10_article.shtml|url=http://www.rednationonline.ca:80/WSA_Winnipeg_looks_to_build_on_growth_and_development_in_Canada_december_13_10_article.shtml|date=December 13, 2010|first=Ian|last=Clarke|archive-date=February 5, 2011|work=Red Nation Online|url-status=dead|title=WSA Winnipeg Looks to Build on Growth and Development in Canada}}{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011010403/http://www.winnipegsun.com/sports/soccer/2011/03/07/17523856.html |title=WSA Winnipeg Soccer Coach Named|url=http://www.winnipegsun.com/sports/soccer/2011/03/07/17523856.html|first=Jim|last=Bender|date=March 7, 2011|publisher=Winnipeg Sun|url-status=dead |archive-date=October 11, 2012}}
In December 2010, WSA Winnipeg created a semi-professional team to participate in the US-based Premier Development League to begin play in the 2011 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/elite-level-soccer-team-announced-for-winnipeg-1.930263|title=Elite-level soccer team announced for Winnipeg|date=December 13, 2010|work=CBC}}{{cite web|url=https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/other/new-soccer-squad-in-town-122645338.html|title=New soccer squad in town|date=May 26, 2011|first=Ashley|last=Prest|work=Winnipeg Free Press}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/soccer/United-Soccer-League-coming-to-Winnipeg-111813544.html|title=United Soccer League coming to Winnipeg|date=December 13, 2010|work=Winnipeg Free Press}}{{cite web|url=http://pdl.uslsoccer.com/home/486812.html |title=WSA Winnipeg Joins PDL |publisher=Premier Development League |date=December 13, 2010 |access-date=January 25, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101216015704/http://pdl.uslsoccer.com/home/486812.html |archive-date=December 16, 2010 }} This marked the return of high level soccer to the city of Winnipeg since the Winnipeg Fury of the original Canadian Soccer League ceased operations in 1993.{{cite web|url=https://www.eightysixforever.com/2011/1/5/1915906/can-wsa-winnipeg-bring-high-level-soccer-to-manitoba-at-last|title=Can WSA Winnipeg Bring High-Level Soccer to Manitoba at last?|first=Benjamin|last=Massey|date=January 5, 2011|work=Eighty-Six Forever}} The club was supported by Mondetta, a well-recognized brand in Canadian professional sports, as one of its primary sponsors.{{cite news|last=Massey|first=Benjamin|title=Have you seen second-year USL PDL team WSA Winnipeg's new jerseys for 2012? No, really, have you...|work=Eighty-Six Forever|url=http://www.eightysixforever.com/2012/3/15/2876253/have-you-seen-second-year-usl-pdl-team-wsa-winnipegs-new-jerseys-for|access-date=October 23, 2016|date=March 15, 2012}} The team primarily fielded rosters built around local talent.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wakingthered.com/2013/7/29/4567584/premier-development-league-victoria-thunder-bay-ottawa-london-easton-report|work=Waking the Red|title=Canadian clubs turning heads with PDL success|date=July 29, 2013|first=Dave|last=Rowaan}}{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313194424/https://www.winnipegsun.com/sports/soccer/2010/12/13/16536086.html|url=https://www.winnipegsun.com/sports/soccer/2010/12/13/16536086.html|last=Wiebe|first=Ken|date=December 13, 2010|archive-date=March 13, 2017|url-status=dead|title=WSA Winnipeg soccer team ready for 2011|work=Winnipeg Sun}}
They played their debut match on May 28, 2011, against the Thunder Bay Chill, losing 1–0.{{cite web|url=https://www.netnewsledger.com/2011/05/29/thunder-bay-chill-start-off-season-with-win/|title=Thunder Bay Chill Start off Season with Win!|first=James|last=Murray|date=May 29, 2011|work=Net News Ledger|access-date=March 27, 2024|archive-date=April 25, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210425012351/https://www.netnewsledger.com/2011/05/29/thunder-bay-chill-start-off-season-with-win/|url-status=bot: unknown}} They got their first win the next day in a rematch versus the Chill, winning 3–0.{{cite web|url=https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-sports/wsa-winnipeg-blanks-chill-387746|title=WSA Winnipeg blanks Chill|date=May 30, 2011|first=Leith|last=Dunick|work=TB News Watch}} The first goal in franchise history was scored by Kenny Sacramento.{{Cite web|url=https://www.eightysixforever.com/2011/5/31/2198778/western-canadian-round-up-the-season-begins-in-earnest|title=Western Canadian Round-Up: The Season Begins in Earnest|first=Benjamin|last=Massey|work=Eighty-Six Forever|date=May 31, 2011}} In their first season, they played an exhibition match against Italian Serie A club AS Roma.{{cite web|url=https://wsa-winnipeg.com/about/wsa-history/|title="We Know Eduardo Quite Well", said AS Roma Manage Vincenzo Montella|work=WSA Winnipeg}}
=FC Manitoba=
In January 2020, the team was purchased by the Garcea Group of Companies and renamed FC Manitoba, while revamping the entire development system of the club, separating from the World Soccer Academy.{{cite web|url=https://northernstartingeleven.com/everything-need-fc-manitoba-winnipeg-developmental-pathway/|archive-date=April 25, 2021|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425014106/https://northernstartingeleven.com/everything-need-fc-manitoba-winnipeg-developmental-pathway/|title=Everything you need to know about FC Manitoba – Winnipeg’s new development pathway|first=Mahith|last=Gamage|work=Northern Starting XI}} The team also received new colours and a new logo.{{Cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6480394/winnipegs-usl-league-two-franchise-sold/|title=Winnipeg’s USL League Two franchise sold to FC Manitoba|website=Global News|first=Russ|last=Hobson}}{{cite web |title=FC Manitoba |url=https://www.uslleaguetwo.com/page/show/5565740-fc-manitoba |website=USL League Two |access-date=January 27, 2020}} The new team's debut season in 2020 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web|url=https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/soccer/man-from-malta-joins-fc-manitoba-574125572.html|title=Man from Malta joins FC Manitoba|first=Taylor|last=Allen|date=April 2, 2021|work=Winnipeg Free Press}} In September 2020, they signed former Serie A player Michele Paolucci to a contract.{{cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/fc-manitoba-michele-paolucci-interview/|title=Michele Paolucci Discusses Big Plans With FC Manitoba|date=September 23, 2020|first=John|last=Jacques|work=Northern Tribune}} Due to the travel restrictions as a result of the continuing pandemic, the team opted out of the 2021 USL League Two season as well.{{cite web|url=https://www.ckdr.net/2021/02/03/217400/|title=Thunder Bay/Winnipeg Opt Out Of 2021 USL Season|date=February 3, 2021|first=Mike|last=Ebbeling|work=CKDR-FM}} Instead, in 2021, they participated in the 2021 Summer Series with other Canadian semi-professional and amateur clubs.{{Cite web|url=https://sportsdesk.com.mt/2021/07/31/fc-manitoba-hand-jose-borg-winning-debut-in-canada/|title=FC Manitoba hand Jose Borg winning debut in Canada|first=Gianluca|last=Lia|date=July 31, 2021|work=Sports Desk}} FC Manitoba returned to USL2 for the 2022 and 2023 seasons.{{Cite web|url=https://sportsdesk.com.mt/2022/01/27/jose-borgs-fc-manitoba-to-launch-usl-league-2-campaign-in-may/|title=FOOTBALLJose Borg’s FC Manitoba to launch USL League 2 campaign in May|date=January 27, 2022|first=Gianluca|last=Lia|work=Sports Desk}} The team did return return for subsequent seasons.
Year-by-year
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |
| Year
!League !{{tooltip|Record|Wins, draws, losses}} !Regular season !Playoffs !Reference |
|---|
| colspan="6" align=center|WSA Winnipeg |
| 2011
|rowspan="8"|PDL |3–1–12 |6th, Heartland |did not qualify |
| 2012
|3–5–8 |6th, Heartland |did not qualify |
| 2013
|3–2–9 |7th, Heartland |did not qualify |
| 2014
|2–2–10 |5th, Heartland |did not qualify |
| 2015
|0–2–12 |6th, Heartland |did not qualify |
| 2016
|1–2–11 |6th, Heartland |did not qualify |
| 2017
|2–1–11 |6th, Heartland |did not qualify |
| 2018
|0–0–14 |6th, Heartland |did not qualify |
| 2019
|0–1–13 |6th, Heartland |did not qualify |
| colspan="6" align=center|FC Manitoba |
| 2020
|rowspan="4"|USL League Two |colspan="3"|season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2021
|colspan="3"|did not play due to COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions |
| 2022
|4–2–6 |4th, Deep North |did not qualify | |
| 2023
|5–4–3 |3rd, Deep North |did not qualify | |
Head coaches
- Eduardo Badescu (2011–2019)
- Tony Mazza (2020)
- Jose Borg (2021–2022)
- Walter Obregón (2023)
Notable former players
The following players have either played at the professional or international level, either before or after playing for the PDL/USL2 team:
{{cmn|colwidth=18em|
- {{flagicon|CAN}} Tyson Farago
- {{flagicon|CAN}} Kyle Hiebert
- {{flagicon|SOM}}{{flagicon|CAN}} Ali Musse
- {{flagicon|NAM}} Maleagi Ngarizemo
- {{flagicon|GHA}} Raphael Ohin
- {{flagicon|ITA}} Michele Paolucci
}}
Affiliate team
FC Manitoba also operates an affiliate team, Ital-Inter SC, in Premier Division of the Manitoba Major Soccer League.
Women's team
In 2021, they announced that they would be creating a women's team.{{Cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/fc-manitoba-announces-womens-team/|title=FC Manitoba Announces Women’s Team|date=April 9, 2021|work=Northern Tribune|first=John|last=Jacques}} They were set to join the semi-professional US-based Women's Premier Soccer League.{{cite web|url=https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/soccer/womens-semi-pro-soccer-in-winnipeg-573471721.html|title=Winnipeg women's soccer team joining semi-pro league|date=December 23, 2021|first=Taylor|last=Allen|work=Winnipeg Free Press}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://footballclubmanitoba.ca}}
- [https://www.uslleaguetwo.com/ Official USL League Two site]
{{Manitoba Sports}}
Category:Association football clubs established in 2010
Category:Soccer clubs in Winnipeg